Louis H. Pollak Obituary

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Louis H. Pollak, a federal judge who helped work on the pivotal school-desegregation case Brown v. Board of Education, and later served as dean of two Ivy League law schools, has died. He was 89.

Pollak, a U.S. district judge, died Tuesday at his home in Philadelphia's West Mount Airy neighborhood, Michael Kunz, clerk of federal district court, said Thursday.

"He was brilliant in issues of jurisprudence. However, that was tempered with a humility that is not often seen in persons of his standing in the legal profession," Kunz said, noting that Pollak's legal career extended across more than six decades, including a 1948-1949 stint as a law clerk to Supreme Court Justice Wiley B. Rutledge.

From 1950 to 1955, Pollak and William T. Coleman worked with Thurgood Marshall and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund in writing briefs about school desegregation cases that culminated in the 1954 ruling that said state laws requiring separate public schools for black and white students were unconstitutional.

Marshall later became a Supreme Court justice himself while Coleman went on to become transportation secretary in President Gerald Ford's administration in the 1970s.

"Those were exhilarating, marvelous years," Pollak told The Philadelphia Inquirer in a 2010 interview. "In retrospect, it seems inevitable" that school segregation would be outlawed. "But we sure didn't know it at the time."

Pollak was nominated to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania by President Jimmy Carter in 1978 and remained in that position until his death.

Born in New York City on Dec. 7, 1922, Pollak graduated from Harvard University in 1943 and Yale Law School in 1948. He was dean at Yale before moving to the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where he also was dean.

David Rudovsky, a University of Pennsylvania law professor, recalled Pollak both as a federal judge and law s chool dean.

"Aside from all that he accomplished, he did it while being fair and considerate and being a decent person," Rudovsky said Thursday. "Those are the hallmarks of what he did."

Pollak is survived by his wife, Katherine, and five daughters. Funeral plans have not yet been announced.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Louis H. Pollak, a federal judge who helped work on the pivotal school-desegregation case Brown v. Board of Education, and later served as dean of two Ivy League law schools, has died. He was 89.

Pollak, a U.S. district judge, died Tuesday at his home in Philadelphia's West Mount Airy neighborhood, Michael Kunz, clerk of federal district court, said Thursday.

"He was brilliant in issues of jurisprudence. However, that was tempered with a humility that is not often seen in persons of his standing in the legal profession," Kunz said, noting that Pollak's legal career extended across more than six decades, including a 1948-1949 stint as a law clerk to Supreme Court Justice Wiley B. Rutledge.

From 1950 to 1955, Pollak and William T. Coleman worked with Thurgood Marshall and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund in writing briefs about school desegregation cases that culminated in the 1954 ruling that said state laws requiring separate public schools for black and white students were unconstitutional.

Marshall later became a Supreme Court justice himself while Coleman went on to become transportation secretary in President Gerald Ford's administration in the 1970s.

"Those were exhilarating, marvelous years," Pollak told The Philadelphia Inquirer in a 2010 interview. "In retrospect, it seems inevitable" that school segregation would be outlawed. "But we sure didn't know it at the time."

Pollak was nominated to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania by President Jimmy Carter in 1978 and remained in that position until his death.

Born in New York City on Dec. 7, 1922, Pollak graduated from Harvard University in 1943 and Yale Law School in 1948. He was dean at Yale before moving to the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where he also was dean.

David Rudovsky, a University of Pennsylvania law professor, recalled Pollak both as a federal judge and law s chool dean.

"Aside from all that he accomplished, he did it while being fair and considerate and being a decent person," Rudovsky said Thursday. "Those are the hallmarks of what he did."

Pollak is survived by his wife, Katherine, and five daughters. Funeral plans have not yet been announced.

Guest Book Highlights

"Dear Mrs. Pollak-- Our deepest condolences to you and your family... What a valued and distinguished life you both have had. You may recall two things-- that Judge Pollak married me and my wife almost exactly 29 years ago; Joanne is next to me on..."

"It's rare to find true greatness. Judge Pollak was one of the greatest jurists—and people-- of our time. I first met Lou Pollak when I was 7 years old and I stumbled into his back yard, where he was playing with his young daughter Susie. He..."- Natalie Tyler (Columbus, OH)

"To Katherine, and Louis's entire family.Louis was beyond genius.Remembering a hot day in Atlanta with Abernathy Andy , ,MLKSr.Louis Reese , personal confident of MLKSr. And Twitty .What a eventful ride to the airport . ..."

"Dear Ms. Pollak and Family - I extend my condolences on your loss. Judge Pollak was Dean of Penn Law School when I graduated in 1976. I interviewed him for the Law School newsletter shortly after he became Dean. I had also met him at Yale while I..."- Michael Kline (Camp Hill, PA)

"To Mrs. Pollak, Sally, Debbie, et al: Please accept my condolences on the passing of your husband and father. I'm sure he is missed, not only by you, but by many whose lives he touched. Having spent a little time in your household, I can't say as..."- Ellis Hope Neel (DE)